2020 RMAC Tournament – hosted by Dixie State
Colorado School of Mines vs. South Dakota Mines, Friday, 5 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
RMAC Tournament Final, Saturday, 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
After defeating New Mexico Highlands in the quarterfinals, third-seeded Colorado School of Mines heads to St. George, Utah for the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament, where they will meet seventh-seeded South Dakota Mines in Friday's semifinals. Top-seeded Dixie State hosts fourth-seeded Colorado Mesa in the other semifinal; the two winners meet Saturday at 7 p.m. for the championship, with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
 
ON THE RMAC NETWORK
The RMAC Tournament can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".

QUARTERFINAL RECAP
Mines started off its RMAC Tournament run with a 73-66 win over New Mexico Highlands on Tuesday. The Orediggers held the Cowboys to a season-low 66 points to move on as Brendan Sullivan notched his second straight double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Michael Glen scored 20 to go with eight boards and three blocks, and Mason Baker came off the bench to score 18 to pace Mines. For NMHU, RMAC scoring champion Sammy Barnes-Thompkins had a game-high 33 points to go with 10 rebounds, but Mines held the RMAC's third-leading scorer, Raquan Mitchell, to just six points on 1-of-14 shooting.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Dixie State pulled away late to beat Regis 84-71, Colorado Mesa held off UCCS 69-66, and South Dakota Mines scored the first round's lone upset with an 80-71 win at rival Black Hills State.

MINES IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
Mines has won the RMAC Tournament twice in its history, in 2012 and 2017. The Orediggers have advanced out of the quarterfinals every year since 2015-16. Mines will meet SDSMT for the first time ever in the postseason; they have also never faced Dixie State, while Mines and Colorado Mesa have met just three times in the RMAC Tournament: the 2016 semis and 2012 final (both Mines wins) and the 2001 quarterfinals (a CMU win).

IN THE RANKINGS
Mines jumped up two spots to #5 in this week's NCAA Regional Rankings, with the top eight getting into the NCAA Tournament; that puts the Orediggers in a much more secure spot as they look to extend their season. Their win over UCCS was an important one as the Mountain Lions appeared at #10 in last week's poll; Mines is now 4-1 against teams in the South Central regional rankings with wins over #3 Dixie State and #9 Lubbock Christian, a split with #4 Black Hills State, and a win over new #10 Colorado Mesa. West Texas A&M remains the SC region's top seed.

SULLIVAN, GLEN, BAKER EARN ALL-RMAC HONORS
On Tuesday, Brendan Sullivan, Mason Baker, and Michael Glen were named to the year-end All-RMAC men's basketball teams. Sullivan earned a first-team spot while both Baker and Glen appeared on the second team. Sullivan is averaging career highs in virtually every category with 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and a team-best 1.5 steals per game while shooting .520/.473/.777; Glen scores 12.3 points per night with a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game and leads the RMAC with 1.6 blocks per night; and Baker leads Mines in scoring with 14.9 points per game and is averaging career-highs in rebounds (4.3 rpg) and assists (3.2 apg).

KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE
Mines' win over UCCS last Friday ensured the Orediggers of their seventh consecutive 20+ win season, and ninth in the last decade under head coach Pryor Orser. Mines has been to the NCAA Tournament six straight seasons, as well.

SO DEFENSIVE
Friday night's game will feature the RMAC's two best scoring defenses in South Dakota Mines (67.4 ppg) and Colorado School of Mines (67.9 ppg). The Orediggers also own the RMAC's best scoring margin (+9.4) with SDSMT third (+8.4); Mines also leads the RMAC in blocks at 4.7 per game paces by Michael Glen (1.6), Brendan Sullivan (0.9), and Titus Reed (0.8).

MINES VS. THE FIELD
Mines faced SDSMT twice this year and lost both meetings, an 84-69 setback in Rapid City on Jan. 17 and a 78-73 loss in Golden on Feb. 22. Mines played Colorado Mesa at home back on Dec. 7 and won 87-76; they also upset then-#13 Dixie State 80-79 in overtime on the road on Jan. 4.

SCOUTING SDSMT [Series: CSM, 14-9]
The Hardrockers are 17-12 overall and went 13-9 in RMAC play, and they picked up their first-ever RMAC Tournament win on Tuesday with an 80-71 upset of #2-seeded Black Hills State on the road. Second-Team all-RMAC picks Allec Williams (22 points) and Mitchell Sueker (16 points) led the way in that contest. Williams leads SDSMT scoring 16.8 ppg, with Sueker adding 14.7 and Logan Elers 11.2; the Hardrockers hold opponents to 65.7 points per game and .438 shooting.